"Bid them be gone, then," he answered. "I only want you."
She left him a moment and ran down. As yet Auna could not tell that the rider was on his way to Huntingdon, but she meant to summon him if possible.
He headed for the Warren House, however, and, while yet he was half a mile distant, she recognised William Marydrew, on his iron-grey pony, and knew that he was coming to Jacob. Immense joy fired Auna at this sight. From an emotion of terrible dread and an inclination to believe that her father would die, she now leapt to hope. No doubt Billy would support her and insist on the doctor being fetched, while he kept the sick man company.
She ran to Jacob with the news.
"Be sure it was ordained for him to come, and it means you are to be saved, dear father," she declared.
At first he was sulky and wished William away.
"'Tis not like him to poke and pry," he said.
But when the old man appeared, proud of his feat in riding up to see them, Jacob welcomed him.
"Don't know which is the most wonderful—you, or your pony," said the sufferer. "Don't touch me, William. I'm in a flame, now cold, now hot, running through my bones; and my heart's beating like a hammer. Something gone wrong and my tongue fills my mouth. I'm hopeful it's the end. But Auna wants the doctor."
"Why, surely. You've catched a fever, Jacob. Put out your tongue. You can always tell by that member if a body's took fever."